Ashworth 904 - 3 Br condo by RedAwning

The location made it easy to get to the beach and Ocean Drive Clubs, but our check-in was three hours late because the unit wasn’t ready. Once we finally got word that it was, we found dirty floors and toilets, food under and inside furniture, stained pillow covers, a smelly bed quilt, and a mattress cover with permanent pee stains. The bedroom TV also didn’t work. If all of those issues had been cleaned up, we would’ve given it four stars.

Be aware that weekends can get loud around here because of the location. Our three-bedroom, three-bath unit had most of what we needed for a monthly stay and was well furnished. There’s also a social group in the building if you want to meet neighbors and stay active. The 18-floor tower has privately owned two-, three-, and four-bedroom condos, right in the heart of Ocean Drive Beach in North Myrtle Beach, SC, close enough to walk to shops, attractions, bars, and restaurants. The common areas were clean and well kept, with Wi-Fi, four quick elevators that were always running, easy beach access, sundecks, a grassy lawn, a large Jacuzzi, and an oceanfront pool. The building and amenities are attractive.

The floors still had sand and dirt on them, and after walking around barefoot my sons had black soles. Dust covered the dining table and living room furniture, and there were crumbs left on the kitchen counter. The bathrooms seemed to be the only things the cleaners had done. Looking out the patio doors was difficult too, I had to open one to get a clear view of the beach, and they looked like they never get cleaned. The rooms may look nice and clean online, but that wasn't what we found. I don't know what the cleaning fee covers, because it sure didn't seem to go toward the rooms.

Bed bugs, beware. We stayed at Ashworth for a week starting Aug 29/15, after booking through Century 21/Thomas Vacations because we thought using a reputable company would give us peace of mind. The website photos looked incredible, but they were badly out of date, and the company showed little responsibility for what happened. The location was good, but the front two bedrooms and adjoining washroom were filthy. There were carpet and couch stains, and the place felt grimy and outdated. Our party of eight included my parents and adult children. On Wednesday, my youngest son developed a rash. I first wondered if it was sunscreen or the fresh fish we’d been eating. It wasn’t painful, but it got worse each day. By Friday it had spread across his back, arms, and legs. We left Myrtle Beach, drove home, and took him straight to the hospital. They referred him to the infectious disease unit, where we learned bed bugs had bitten him. I called Century 21 Thomas Vacations, and they were dismissive from the start. They eventually sent a pest control company, which confirmed the room was infested. I never got a return call. After I tried several times to get an update, I was told I was right. All I got was “sorry for the inconvenience,” and someone said just thinking about it made them itchy. We’d paid $250 for their linen package and brought a pillow of our own. That pillow and all our luggage had to be discarded. The linens were infested, yet renters are expected to make the beds on arrival and strip them before leaving, with an extra credit card charge if they don’t. It seems Century 21 staff could make and strip the beds while checking for bed bugs. I also find it hard to believe an infestation this bad happened overnight without Century 21 getting earlier complaints. They said they would credit my card for the linen package, but that was all they would cover. Our other out-of-pocket costs weren’t considered. We paid $2,000 Canadian for the week, and I still haven’t seen the linen credit on my card. I spoke with several representatives and couldn’t trust their responses. I’d be very surprised if Century 21/Thomas Vacations did anything else about my complaint. I want to warn anyone looking at Myrtle Beach rentals not to book with Century 21/Thomas Vacations. They don’t take care of the rental properties and have no customer service. Please beware, I don’t want anyone else’s family ending up in this situation.